Welding machine



Oct. 12, 1954 J. A. FOTIE WELDING MAEHINE .6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed May 21. 1951 INVENTOR. Joseph A Fbf/e Arron/v5! Oct. 12, 1954 J. A. FOTIE WELDING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May 21 1951 WP W W A 0. QR w Oct. 12, 1954 J. A. FOTIE. 2,691,714

WELDING MACHINE Filed May 21 1951 S Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR.

Joseph A FZf/ ATTORMEK Oct. 12, 1954 J, 0115 2,691,714

WELDING MACHINE Filed May 21, 1951 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR.

Patented Oct. 12, 1954 WELDING MACHINE Joseph A. Fotie, Kansas City, Mo., assignor to Rex Welder & Engineering 00., Kansas City, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application May 21, 1951, Serial No. 227,443

9 Claims.

This invention relates to electric welding machines particularly of the kind adapted for producing wire mats wherein is included a plurality of spaced, longitudinal Wires having cross wires superimposed thereon and Welded thereto at the point of crossing.

In the machine-forming the subject matter of the present invention, a relatively large number of spaced, longitudinally extending wires are advanced through the machine simultaneously and intermittently, the wires being spaced as may be pre-desired and covering an area according to the width of the mat to be produced. A cross wire is fed to the longitudinal wires in correspondence with each advancement of the latter and such cross wire is thereupon also advanced to a welding station. Obviously, the spacing between the cross wires is determined by the extent of advancement of the longitudinal wires during each step-by-step operation of the machine and the synchronized speed of operation of the feeding mechanism.

It is thus far clear that it is absolutely esssential that the cross wires be fed and advanced in a manner to assure welding thereof to each longitudinal wire and that the most difficult problems in machines of this character lies in such positive welding at all points of crossing. The problem is enhanced by virtue of the material itself and while it is not particularly difficult to maintain the longitudinal wires in a straight, unkinked condition, a greater problem is presented in holding the cross wires in a substantially straight condition so as to be engaged directly and accurately by the welding electrodes at the point of crossing. Accompanying such problems are that of feeding the cross wires so that the spaces therebetween are maintained substantially the same and avoiding progressive increase or decrease of such distances as the machine is placed in continuous operation over a relatively long period of time.

It is the most important object of the present invei'ition therefore, to provide a mat producing machine of the aforesaid character wherein the cross wires are fed to a rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally extending slots formed in the periphery thereof for receiving the cross wires, the slots being co-extensive in length with the cross wire and there being provided means in conjunction with the drum for gripping the wires from the slots individually in timed relationship with the advancement of the longitudinal wires of the mat.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a welding machine wherein is included a number of annular grooves in the rotatable cross wire-receiving drum that intersect the slots thereof and including additionally, a finger extending to each groove respectively for stripping the cross wires from the slots thereof as the wires are brought into engagement with the fingers by rotation of the drum.

It is another object of this invention to provide a welding machine having the cross wire feeding assembly as just above set forth and including a covering tube for the drum having an out let opening into which the fingers extend and through which the cross wires are fed, the tube serving to close the slots and thereby hold the cross wires therewithin until removed for deposit upon the longitudinal wires.

Another important object of the present invention is to provide a novel table arrangement along which the longitudinal wires are advanced and upon which the cross wires are fed, the primary distinguishing feature of the table lying in the provision of a number of sections each individually mounted for floating movement and each having spring means for maintaining the same biased against the wires sliding thereon.

It is another object of this invention to provide a welding machine wherein the sections of the aforesaid table are each grooved for receiving the longitudinal wires, such wires as the cross wires all being yieldably held against the stripping fingers of the cross wire feeding assembly by the springs of the table sections.

A still further object of this invention is to provide in the cross wire feeding mechanism, a reciprocable plate that slides along the upper surface of the sectional table and against the cross wires as the same are fed upon the table and accordingly, upon the longitudinal wires to a position for welding between relatively moving series of welding electrodes.

Many additional objects for accomplishing the accuracies initially set forth herein, will be made clear or become apparent as the following specification progresses, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is an end elevational View of a welding machine made according to the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an elevational view showing the op posite end thereof.

Fig. 3 is a substantially, central, vertical, crosssectional view taken on the transverse axis of the machine.

Fig. i is an enlarged, fragmentary, detailed,

cross-sectional view similar to Fig. 3 and illustrating the cross wire feeding assembly.

Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional View similar to Fig. 4 illustrating the cross wire advancing plate at one end of its path of travel opposite to that shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is an enlarged, fragmentary, elevational view illustrating the motivating carriage for the cross wire advancing plate, parts being broken away and in section to reveal details of construction of the sectional wire-receiving table.

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary, cross-sectional view taken on irregular line VIIVII of Fig. 4.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged, elevational view of the gearing within the case shown in Fig. 2, for imparting intermittent rotation to the cross wire feeding drum.

Fig. 9 is an edge elevational view thereof.

Fig. 10 is a fragmentary, enlarged, elevational view of the mat-receiving drum shown in Figs. 1

to 3 inclusive.

Fig. 11 is an enlarged, fragmentary, vertical, cross-sectional view taken on line XIXI of Fig. 5.

Fig. 12 is an enlarged, fragmentary, horizontal, cross-sectional view taken on line XIII-XII of Fig. 5; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged, fragmentary, crosssectional view taken on line XIIL-XIII of Fig. 4.

The welding machine forming the subject matter of the present invention necessarily includes a large number of detailed features forming no part of the present invention and thus, except for its novel characteristics, the machine has been shown in its assembled form and its operation need be described only by its broad aspects.

The supporting framework includes a pair of end walls I2 and M as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, that are joined by a plurality of structural elements (see Fig. 3) including a pair of lowermost, horizontal beams i6, a pair of center beams 58 (see also Figs. 46), a pair of uppermost beams 2!], together with auxiliary members 22, 24, 26 and 28 that interconnect the walls l2 and I4 and operate to support various parts of the mechanism between walls l2 and M as will hereinafter be set forth. The beams mount a top plate 30 (Fig. 3) for receiving a prime mover 32, together with various other elements including speed reducers, shafts and gearing (Figs. 1-3) and vertical standards 34 (one only being shown in Fig. 3) between one of the beams l8 and its overlying beam 20 serve to additionally stabilize the top plate 30.

Substantially all of the electrical apparatus forming a part of the welding machine hereof, is contained within a number of elongated housings 36 extending longitudinally of the machine between walls I2 and I4 and carried by beams 22 and 26 respectively as is most clear in Fig. 3 of the drawings. The beam 24 functions to support a series of stationary welding electrodes 38 having a common, horizontal, uppermost surface, such electrodes being illustrated in Figs. 3 to 6 inclusive of the drawings. See Fig. 6 for the sideby-side disposition of the electrodes 38. There is provided a vertically reciprocable electrode 40,

only one of which is seen in Figs. 1, 3, 4 and 5,

for each stationary electrode 38 and movable toward and away therefrom upon energization of electric motor or other prime mover 32.

The series of spring-loaded movable welding electrodes 40 extending substantially the entire distance between walls I 2 and I4, are mounted upon a vertical plate 42 forming a part of an auxiliary frame 44 having arms 46 (one only being shown in Fig. 3) that are pivotally secured to a cross shaft 48 directly above the beams 26 and adjacent beam 28. Accordingly, the electrodes 43 pass through a slight are as they move toward and away from the stationary electrodes 38 upon swinging of the secondary frame 44 on shaft 48. Such swinging movement is occasioned by rotation of a shaft 50 extending the entire length of the machine and carried by the upper plate 39 thereof (Fig. 3). Shaft 50 is provided with a number of eccentrics 52 that join with the secondary frame 44 through corresponding links 54 that are in turn pivotally connected with the frame 44 as at 56. One of these eccentrics 52 and its link 54 are shown in Fig. 3. The shaft 59 is provided with sprocket wheels 58, 60 (Fig. 1) and GI, the former of which joins with speed reducer unit 62 through its sprocket wheel 64 by means of a continuous chain 66 as shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

The longitudinal wires 68 (Figs. 3-5) forming a part of the mat to be produced by the welding machine hereof, are first fed through a plate 15 that is in turn provided with an opening for each Wire 68 respectively to guide the same, it being noted in Fig. 3 that plate 18 is disposed substantially midway between one of the beams 16 and the beam 2!} directly thereabove. Wires 68 are additionally guided during advancement thereof by an elongated, horizontal bar 12 (Figs. 3-6) having an opening 74 (Fig. 6') therein for each wire 68 respectively, the bar '12 being supported as hereinafter to be made clear directly below that beam 18 having standards 34 thereon. From the bar 12 the longitudinal wires 68 extend between the electrodes 38 and 49, as best seen in Fig. 12, and beneath the auxiliary frame 44 where the same pass beneath a roller 13 on shaft 48, (Fig. 3) and thence over a horizontal, rotatable drum 16 (Figs. 1-3 and 9) and beneath a second roller 18 carried by the beam 28 (Fig. 3).

Assuming the cross wires (Figs. 4 and 5) to have been welded to the plurality of longitudinal wires 68, rotation of the mat-receiving drum 16 operates to pull the wires 68 through the machine along the path of travel just above traced, together with the cross wires 80 that are affixed thereto. As shown most clearly in Fig. 10 of the drawings, drum 76 is provided with a spirally arranged series of spaced-apart, removable lugs 82 that not only engage the cross wires 80' to effect the pulling force upon the wires 68 and the completed part of the mat, but being properly and carefully spaced operate to hold the mat in a proper position for the exact amount of intermittent movement needed and to prevent lateral shifting thereof within the welding machine.

It is to be noted in Fig. 10 of the drawings that the lugs 82 in addition to being spirally wound, are so spaced as to provide a number of parallel rows thereof, each extending the full length of the drum it, together with a number of parallel rows of lugs 82 that circumscribe the drum [6.

Accordingly, each longitudinally extending row of lugs 82 engages a cross wire 80 and one or more rows of lugs 82 that circumscribe the drum 76 are disposed between the longitudinal wires 63.

Intermittent rotation of the drum (6 anticlockwise viewing Fig. 3 of the drawings is accomplished through the provision of elongated links 84 and 8G eccentrically connected at one end thereof to sprocket wheels 60 and 6! respectively, each having a crank 88 pivotally secured to the lowermost end thereof. (See Figs. 1 and 2). The cranks to are connected with shaft 9!)- for the drum it through suitable clutch means not shown for preventing rotation of the drum it clockwise viewing Fig. 3 of the drawings.

An assembly for directing the cross wires 88 into the machine is shown in Fig. 1 mounted on the outer face of wall I2 and broadly designated by the numeral 22. While the entire assembly 92 forms no particular part of the present invention, it is seen that the same is driven from the prime mover 32 by means of a continuous chain 94 connected with the sprocket wheel 6! Assembly 92 forces the cross wires 80 into an aligned slot 95 formed in a drum 98 that is rotatable between the walls I2 and It substantially immediately below the beam I8 having standards 34 thereon and on one side of the electrodes 38 and 40 opposite to the auxiliary frame M. (See Figs. 3-6).

The drum 98 is provided with a plurality of spaced-apart, parallel, horizontal slots 96 that extend the entire length thereof and which are intersected by a number of annular grooves I02 that circumscribe the drum 92 as shown best in Figs. 11 and 12. Accordingly the grooves Hill are in communciation with the slots 96 and each receive an elongated, horizontal finger I22 that is carried by a bar IIM extending between walls I2 and I l and suitably slotted as at IIIG on its lowermost face for reception of the fingers I62 extending transversely of bar Iii l. A setscrew I88 or like fastening means adjacent each slot I28, is provided for adjustably and rigidly mounting the fingers IIJZ to their supporting bar H34 (Fig. '7). The beam I8, next adjacent the drum 28, is provided with a plurality of depending frame pieces III] and H2 (Fig. 6) to which the bar Ifl i is directly affixed and maintained in a horizontal plane between drum 9B and the electrodes 38 and 40 as is clear in Figs. 4 and 5.

The frame pieces III) and II 2 also operate to support an elongated tube H4 (Figs. 3-6) that partially circumscribes the drum 98 and therefore, closes certain of the slots 96. Tube II l coextensive in length with the drum 98 has an elongated outlet openings II5 (Figs. 3-5) extending its entire length adjacent the bar I64 and into which the fingers I 02 extend for disposition within the corresponding grooves III!) of drum 98 as seen in Figs. 4, '7, 11 and 12. It is important to note at this point that each finger I02 is provided with a beveled, downwardly-facing, innermost end as at I It. (See Figs. 4 and 5).

A horizontal table, broadly designated by the numeral I2!) (in Figs. 3-7) and extending substantially the entire distance between walls I 2 and It directly underlies the drum 28 and particularly the outlet opening H5 of tube IIA. Table I2Ii is supported by an underlying, elongated bar I22 carried by the frame pieces I I0, and it is upon this bar I22 that the perforated guide bars 72 for the wires 68 are directly and rigidly mounted.

A plurality of spacers I24 between one edge of the bar I22 and the bar l2, hold the latter spaced away from the table I2il in the manner shown in Figs. 4 and 5 of the drawings. Table I28 is composed of a relatively large number of individual elongated sections I22 disposed transversely of bar I22 and each in turn being individually and separately mounted for vertical floating movement toward and away from the bar I22 that supports the same.

Bar I22 has a pair of spaced, upstanding pins I28 (Figs. 4, 5 and 7) for each section I26 respec' tively of table I20, and the sections I25 are provided with openings (not shown) for receiving the ins I28, the latter thereby guiding the sections I25 as the same move toward and away from bar I22. Additionally, a pair of springs I are interposed between bar I22 and each section I26 respectively, there being cavities both in the bar I22 and in the sections I25 for receiving the springs I30 and holding the same against lateral displacement. Note in Fig. 11 the table Hill with one row of the upstanding pins I28, one for each section I2t respectively, together with one row of the springs I30.

Accordingly, as is clear in Fig. 11, the entire table I26 is held biased upwardly toward the bar tilt, the fingers I02, the tube Ht and toward a fiat, horizontal, elongated plate I32 that extends substantially the entire distance between walls I2 and I l and rests upon the uppermost edge of the bar '52, plate I32 and bar '32 being broken away in Fig. 12 to show one of the openings M. An L-shaped flange I3 5 (Figs. 4 and 5) secured directly to the bar I22 extends upwardly into partial overlapping relationship to one end of the table I29 as an auxiliary support therefor. Each section I26 respectively of the table I259 is provided with a longitudinally extending groove I3I in the upper face thereof. It is noted in Figs. 6 and 11 that the grooves Isl are V-shaped in cross-section and as shown in Figs. '7, 12 and 13 of the drawings, each groove I3I respectively be comes progressively narrower as the flange 3 2 is approached. Fig. 5 illustrates by dotted lines the way in which the grooves Iii! become progre sively shallower as the bar its is approached. Obviously each groove 53H registers at its deepest and widest end with a corresponding opening I- in the bar I2 as shown in Fig. 12.

plate I22 is reciprocated toward and away from electrodes 38 and through the medium of a carriage its upon which it is directly mounted, carriage I33 having a number of rollers I558 guided within a pair of spaced, horizontal tracks l st in turn \carried by the beams It (see Figs, 3-6).

Reciprocation of carriage m5 takes place through the medium of a pair of cams, one only of which is illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings, and designated by the numeral I42.

Cams I42 each have an egg-shaped groove Iil therein for receiving a corresponding roller not shown, and mounted upon extension i-Ifi oi the carriage I36 as shown in Fig. 3. A rotating shaft I lt upon which the cams I22 are directly mounted, extends between walls :2 and i l and is suitably braced and supported by framework; I52 and E52 extending between one of the beams 20 and one of the beams It respectively. Shaft N58 has a sprocket wheel I5Il thereon (Fig. 2) for receiving a continuous chain I55 that passes over sprocket wheel ti thereby providing rotative force for the shaft M8 from prime mover I32.

A casing I58 on the outer face of wall I l, re ceives a modified form of Geneva gearing IGEI for imparting intermittent rotative movement to the drum 98 through chain 5.56. A gear 352 having a plurality of notches I82 is connected directly to a shaft extension I66 (Figs. 2 and 6) of drum 98.

A pair of plates I68 held apart by an interconnecting spacer I'Iil therebetween, receives a por-- tion of the gear I82, spacer I'm having a lateral extension Il'2 provided with a roller Ihl adapted to be received by notches It i. Plates I68 and the spacer we are mounted on a stub shaft I16 that in turn receives a sprocket wheel I13 exteriorly of easing I58 and a continuous chain I89 joins the sprocket wheel I'I8 with a sprocket wheel I82 on shaft I48.

A continuous conveyor belt I84 driven in any suitable manner not shown, underlies the auxiliary frame 44 and extends through an opening I85 in wall I4. Belt I84 underlies cutters H38 carried by the auxiliary frame 44 and cooperating with stationary members I98 therebelow in cutting the cross wires 80 if desired at various points therealong to predetermine the width of the mat or mats emanating from rollers 18. It is to be noted however, that the initial severance of the cross wires 80 between drum 98 and the assembly 92 is accomplished by the shearing action of drum 98 as the same rotates relative to the feeding means for assembly 92. Continuous belt I31} operates to receive fragments of the cross wires 83 when cutting means I88 are placed in use and to carry the same free of the machine exteriorly of the wall I l through outlet I86.

In summary, Figs. 1l-l3 illustrate the nature and disposition of the table I2fi and its associ ated parts, as well as the fingers I92 that extend into the grooves I 88 of the drum 98. Fig. 12 particularly, shows how the longitudinal wires 63, fed beneath the carriage i3$ from perforations '18 (Fig. 3), underlie the plate E32, pass through the openings I I, thence in the grooves i3I, beneath the bar I04, and between the electrodes and H3. The nature of the uppermost face of the lowermost half I23 of the table and particularly the grooves i3I therein, can be easily understood from Fig. 13.

Fig. 12 also shows the cross wires 88 contained in the grooves 96 and illustrates the manner in which the wires 86 cross the wires 63 as they are pushed along with the longitudinally moving wires 63 to a welding position between the elec- 1 trodes 38 and 0. The spring-loaded, uppermost bars I28 of the table I20 are shown in cross-secticn in Fig. 11, as are the fingers E92 extending into the grooves I00.

In operation, energization of prime mover 32 operates to drive the drum I6 for intermittent rotation through links 36, cranks 88 and the clutching arrangement forming a part thereof. Such rotation of the drum It operates through lugs 82 to advance the longitudinal wires 68 and accordingly, the cross wires 80 that have been welded thereto. The drum 98 rotates in unison with the drum In by virtue of gearing I86 and while drum 98 is stationary, the assembly 92 operates to force a cross wire 86 into one of the slots GE, preferably the uppermost of such slots 98.

As drum 98 rotates in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. 4. of the drawings, a cross wire 83 will be forced against the plurality of rigid fingers I 02 and articularly against and beneath the inclined edges I I8 thereof. ingers 502 therefore, strip the wire 30 from its slot and cause the same to move from within the tube Ht for deposit upon the longitudinal wires 63 that are in turn supported by the table I26 in corresponding grooves I3I. As soon as the cross wire 88 is deposited on the table 29 and therefore, on the wires 68 in intersecting relationship to the latter as seen in Fig. 12, carriage I36 operating through shaft I48 and cams M2, moves from the position shown in Fig. 5 of the drawing to the position shown in Fig. 4. Plate I32 accordingly moves to a position between the lowermost extremity of tube I It adjacent outlet opening I I8 and the table I20, springs I30 yielding accordingly. Plate I32 8 is also forced against the deposited cross wire 80, sliding the latter horizontally beneath the rigid fingers I02 along the table I20 transversely of the latter to a point of welding between electrodes 38 and 40.

It is to be noted that the entire horizontal leading edge of the plate I32 opposite to carriage 336 contacts the cross wire throughout its length and while wire 80 is being moved along table I28, it is held clamped in sliding engagement with not only the table I20 but the fingers Hi2 by virtue of springs I30. Forming of the table I28 to a plurality of sections I26 and providing spring means I30 for each section I25 respectively, effects a holding means for the wire 8i] that prevents its kinking and bending out of shape prior to connection to the wires 68 by operation of welding electrodes 38 and 40 while the wires 68 and one of the cross wires 80 are between electrodes 38 and 40.

It is to be noted further that the grooves Isl progressively guide the wires 58 upwardly toward the fingers I02 and also guide the wires 68 to a median point vertically with respect to the electrodes 38 and 49 as can be appreciated by viewing Figs. 12 and 13. Just prior to the welding operation therefore, both the longitudinal wires and the cross wires 86 are held tightly together and tightly against the fingers M2 by the action of the relatively large number of springs holding the table upwardly biased against the crossed wires 68 and 80.

The machine is properly synchronized for swinging movement of the frame :36 through links 54 and eccentrics 52 to move the electrodes iz; downwardly against the cross wires 88 at the moment the same are moved to a position between electrodes 38 and 4G by the reeiprocable plate I32. As the plate I32 returns to the position shown in Figs. 5 and 12 from the position shown in Fig. 4, the drum 98 rotates to deposit another wire 80 upon the table IZG, drum I8 and plate operating simultaneously to advance the entire mat, as well as the cross wire 89 next to be welded.

Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-e::tending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; and a finger extending into each groove respectively for stripping the wires frim the slots as the drum is rotated.

2. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; an elongated, stationary tube partially covering said drum and closing said slots, said tube having an outlet opening extending longitudinally thereof; and a finger extending into each groove respectively through said outlet opening for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated.

3. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof,

and a number of spaced, transverse, annulargrooves intersecting said slots; a finger extending into each groove respectively for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; and reciprocable means on the table for engaging the wires fed to the table and shifting the same to a welding position.

4. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots, a finger extending into each groove respectively for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; reciprocable means on the table for engaging the wires fed to the table and shifting the same to a welding position; and yieldable means for holding the table biased toward the fingers to maintain the reciprocable means and the wires in engagement with the fingers as the wires are shifted.

5. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; a finger extending into each groove respectively for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; reciprocable means on the table for engaging the wires fed to the table and shifting the same to a welding position, said table including a plurality of fioatingly mounted sections; and yieldable means for each section respectively for holding the same biased toward the fingers to maintain the reciprocable means and the wires in engagement with the fingers as the wires are shifted.

6. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; a finger extending into each groove respectively for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is 1'0- tated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; and an elongated, reciprocable plate on the table for engaging the wires throughout the lengths thereof at one edge of the plate as the same are fed to the table and shifting the same to a welding position.

7. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; an elongated, stationary tube partially covering said drum and closing said slots, said tube having an outlet opening extending longitudinally thereof; a finger extending into each groove respectively through said outlet opening for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; and re- 10 ciprocable means between the table and the tube for engaging the wires fed to the table through said outlet opening and shifting the same to a welding position.

8. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extending, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, an nular grooves intersecting said slots; an elongated, stationary tube partially covering said drum and closing said slots, said tube having an outlet opening extending longitudinally thereof; a finger extending into each groove respectively through said outlet opening for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a wire-receiving table beneath the drum; reciprocable means between the table and the tube for engaging the wires fed to the table through said outlet opening and shifting the same to a welding position; and yieldable means for holding the table biased toward the tube to maintain the reciprocable means in engagement with the tube and the fingers and the wires in engagement with the fingers as the wires are shifted.

9. In a welding machine, wire feeding structure comprising an elongated, rotatable drum having a number of longitudinally-extendlng, wire-receiving slots spaced around the periphery thereof, and a number of spaced, transverse, annular grooves intersecting said slots; an elongated, stationary tube partially covering said drum and closing said slots, said tube having an outlet opening extending longitudinally thereof; a finger extending into each groove respectively through said outlet opening for stripping the wires from the slots as the drum is rotated; a Wire-receiving table beneath the drum; reciprocable means between the table and the tube for engaging the wires fed to the table through said outlet opening and shifting the same to a welding position, said table including a stationary bar and a plurality of separate sections, individually mounted on the bar for movement toward and away from the tube; and yieldable means between the bar and each section respectively for holding the sections biased toward the tube to maintain the reciprocable means in engagement with the tube and the fingers and the wires in engagement with the fingers as the wires are shifted.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 633,213 Perry Sept. 19, 1899 1,093,297 Southwick Apr. 14, 1914 1,581,868 Reed Apr. 20, 1928 2,410,766 Wickwire Nov. 5, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 589,148 France Feb. 17, 1925 

